Screen holding strip securing means



Jan. 12, 1954 A. LANG SCREEN HOLDING STRIP SECURING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 17, 1950 INVENTOR. lain- [1M6 Jan. 12, 1954 A. LANG SCREEN HOLDING STRIP SECURING MEANS 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed April 17, 1950 INVENTOR. flu! u/va ITfOP/VD'J' Patented Jan. 12, 1954 UN I TED STATES PATENT O'F FI CE 1 SCREEN HOLDING STRIP SECURING MEANS- T Albert Lang, Oakland, Calif.

Application Apl-il 1'7, 1950, Serial No. 156,353

2 Claims.

This invention relates'to a screen holdingstrip securing means and is particularly concerned with means ofsecuring the screen strip of a .frameless window screen.

Screens of the character lherein referred were characterized by the provision of a screen hold ing strip, usually metallic, which extends throughout the length of at leastone edge or the screen. The screens. are secured to such strips in 'any conventional manner, frequently by inserting the screen edge within a return bentaportion of the Screens'trip. The holding strip usually extends substantially beyond the edge of thescreen to be engaged by securingmeans and in many instances the outward extension also acts as, or supports, a sealing member; Such holding strips have been secured to the window frame in various manners, the most simple being a simple flat securing plate .iormed integrally :With the strip and screwed to the frame. Znsuch securconstruction the plates are frequently engaged by a single securing screw. In the operation of these devices, :when tension is applied to the screen, a pivotal movement of the platcwith respect to the screw occurs. Such pivotalmovemerit not only releases the tension which "is attempted to be applied but also 'the'arrangement is frequently such that, upon such pivotal movement, the sealing-engagement of the strip with te iramelis destroyed. In certain'arrangemerits of frameless screens tensioningmeans is provided in conjunction-with the securement of one screen edge while the opposite screen edge is secured by. the simple plates-and securing screws of the type abovereferred to. In-such instances the tensioning means is frequently such as to provide only a given amount oftensioning movement and the originaladjustrnent of the screen, inorder to provide such tension, providedby' an adjustment of the securing screwswhich holds the plates. Obviously .insuch an arrangement thew-plate is free to move on the shank of the screw which secured it andsince the headed the screw is spaced irom theframe in orderto permit such original adjustment the' pivotalmovementis excessive:

It is,therefore,among the'prime objects of the present invention to provide 'a novel, simple and improved "securing means for screen holding strips:

More specifically, it is among theobjects of the present invention-to provide a'securing means for a screen holding strip which will preclude pivotal movement'of isuch'securing'means in "response to 2 the application of tension by the screentothe strip.

A further object of the present inventionds to provide a novel and simple improved securing means for a screen holding strip which may-be readily adjusted to vary the location of theistrip and screen with respect to a window frame.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a securing means for a screen strip .by which a single attaching screw is engaged by the securing means'at a plurality of spaced points whereby tilting, canting or angular movement 0! the securing means with respect to the screw is precluded.

Another object of the present invention" is to provide readily releasable securing means for a screen holding strip so that the strip and screen may be released from the attaching-screw with a minimum of difiiculty and without removing the securing elements from the strip. i

Numerous other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: V

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a screenstrip detachably secured to a frame by securing means formed in accordance with the present invention.

2 is a perspective view of one of the securingelements disclosed in Fig. 1

Fig. .3 is a perspective view of another-of the securing elements illustrated in Fig.1.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and '7 are vertical sectional views illustrating modified forms of securingelement formed in accordance with the presentinvention. Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on 'the'lines 8-8 of Fig. '7. In general terms the securing means ofthe present invention maybe defined as being char acterized-by a securing device adapted to beretained by an attaching screw which soengages the device as to preclude a tilting movement thereof with respect to'the shank of the screw securing means. In those forms of-theinvention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 the securing means is releasable withrespect to its attachingscrew sothat it'may be permanently engaged withthe strip and detached from the attachingscrew and moved with the screen holding strip. In -those forms ofthe invention illustrated in Figsqi and 5 the securing means is shown readilwdetachable from the holding strip-so that it may be permanently securedin' adjusted position on the frame whilethestrip'and screen'are detached from it. In Fig. 6 the securing means is not readily detachable from either the strip or the attaching screw. Release of the screw in such instance is by removal of the attaching screw from the frame. It is to be specifically understood, however, that these characteristics are interchangeable. For instance, the securing means of Figs. 1 to 3 may be detachable from the screen as in Figs. 4 and 5, while the devices of Figs. 4 and 5 may be more permanently secured to the strip and so forth. In Figs. 1 to 4 and 6 the securing means are shown as including a pair of spaced side members of a U-shaped bracket, such members having aligned apertures as terminal portions of bayonet slots for engaging the shank of the attaching screw at spaced points so that by such engagement of the screw shank pivotal movement with respect to the shank is precluded. In that form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 the pivotal movement is likewise precluded by the use of an elongated screw shank engaging portion, and in that form of the invention shown in Figs. '7 and 8 the plate is engaged by the extended surface of a bushing carried by the screw whereby the extended contact between plate and bushing is such as to preclude pivotal movement. Throughout the foregoing discussion and the following specification and claims the term attaching screw is used in a generic sense referring to any equivalent means secured to the window frame and engageable with the securing means.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I designates the screen which is of foraminous, flexible material usually such as woven wire, plastic or textile threads. At the edge of the screen It] there is provided the screen holding strip II with which the screen may be attached in any conventional fashion. In those forms of the invention here shown, by way of illustration, the securement of the screen is by an enfoldment of the edge within a turned bent portion I2 of the strip II. Above the return bent portion I2 of the strip II the strip is inwardly turned, as indicated at I3, and from the in turned portion I3 a sealing flange i4 extends upwardly to engage a face of the window frame. For securing the strip to the window frame slots I5 are provided at spaced intervals along the strip and such apertures are adapted to receive therethrough engaging tongues I6 formed as integral extensions of the securing means. As hereinbefore referred to, in those forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8 the tongue I6 is formed to lie parallel, thus permanently attaching the securing means to the strip and urging the flange I4 in sealing relation to the face of the frame, and in contact with the outer face'of the flange I4. In Figs. 4 and 5, however, tongues I6 are turned angularly with respect to the flange I4 so that the strip may be disengaged from the tongue by pivotal sliding movement upwardly and outwardly from the tongue. If desired the tongues may be bent from the parallel position of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 3 to assure the releasable position of Figs. 4 and 5 for assembly purposes and thereafter bent to the parallel position to lock them in position. Thereafter they may be released by bending outwardly to permit detachment of the strip from the securing means.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the securing means there shown are releasably engaged with their attaching screws so that the retaining means may be disengaged from the screws and moved with the screen strip to which they are here shown as permanently engaged. Throughout the present disclosure the strip I I is shown as a top holding strip. It will be understood, however, that the securing means is not limited to this application and it may be used for side or botom holding strips if desired. In Fig. 1 the strip is shown as secured by spaced securing means, all of which are releasable from their attaching screws. For purposes hereinafter referred to it is found preferable to utilize end securing means of difierent structure from that of the central securing means. It wil be understood, however, that such means is interchangeable and may be of one form or the other as desired.

As shown in Fig. 2, the end securing means generally indicated by numeral I! have their tongues I6 mounted in the slots I5 which, in this instance, is elongated so as to permit the members I1 to slide with respect to the strip I I. Each member I! comprises a body portion from which the tongue l6 extends having spaced parallel top and bottom members I8 joined by an intermediate front wall I9, the body being thus substantially U shaped in cross-section.

The body of the member I! is provided with a bayonet type slot 20 extending through the front wall I9 inwardly and thereafter turning longitudinally of the body. The attaching screw, indicated at 2|, is mounted in the frame to extend inwardly therefrom and on an axis parallel to the plane of the window opening. It will be readily understood that by sliding the member I7 with respect to the strip I I, the outwardly opening leg of the slot 20 may be caused to register with the screw 2I so as to permit the screw shank to enter the slot. Thereafter reverse sliding movement will locate the shank within the longitudinal leg of the slot to lock the se curing means against transverse movement with respect to the shank of the screw. Subsequent release may of course be achieved by a reverse sliding of the member I! with respect to the strip.

From the foregoing it will be seen that with the securing means I! moved to the locked engaging position of Fig. 2 the shank of the attaching screw 2| is engaged on three sides by both the upper and lower side members I 3 of the body. It will, of course, be readily seen that such engagement of the shank of the screw 2! at spaced points b relatively rigidly joined spaced elements of the retaining means will preclude any pivotal wobbling or canting movement of the retaining mezns body, and thus its tongue I6 with respect to the screw shank. Thus with the screw shank disposed on an axis parallel with the face of the frame the retainer and its tongue I6 will be secured at all times similarly parallel and the strip flange I4 will be caused to squarely seal against the face regardless of the tension applied and regardless of the vertically adjusted position of the securing means. It should further be noted that since the sustaining contact between the strip and retainer is at the slot I5 parallelism of the full extent of the tongue IS with the flange I 4 is not required to ensure a square relation of the flange with the face of the frame. Since tilting movement of the retainer is precluded, no tilting movement of the strip will result from the application of tension thereto. It will also be noted that, in addition to the above, the free edge of the lower wall I8 .(see Fig. 3) bears against the screen which lies over "theinner flange of the 'returnf-"benflportion; thus cooperating *with the tongue 6 in precluding pivotal movement of the strip'with respect to the securing means.

The-central securing means'22 shown-in Figs.

1 and3 comprises a body portion similar to that of Fighz from whichthetongue l-G -'extends'-in like' 'mannenand similarly the top and bottom members 23 eithe U-shaped body being joined by a front wall 24. type of slot-provided for the securing-element H, the central securing element 22 is providedwith a. s 'ingle'straight slot indicated at 25. Within the body there is provided a transversely *slida'ble keeper'126 having a bayonet time slot indicated at 21.- [Thekeeper is slidaibly retainedwith the member 22 by suitable means such 'as a groove 28 formed in the upper f acathereof which receiv'es depressed detent's' "29 "formed in the top member 23 of the body.

In the operation of this form of retaining means, it will be readily seen that when the retaining member is to be secured to the attaching screw 2!, the keeper 25 is movedwithin theinember 22 to causethe outer opening portion of the bayonet slot 2'! to register with'the slot 25, at which time both slots will'be in position to receive the screw 2!. For securing'the member 22 against accidental displacement from thescrew 2i, thekeeper is moved to the position indicated in Fig. 3 in which the longitudinal portion of the bayonet slot 27 receives the screw 2| while the outer Wall indicated at 39 adjacent the longitudinal portion of the bayonet slot covers the opening 25 in the body of the member 22,thus precluding displacement of the retaining member from thescrew. Since accidental sliding of the members i l may'talie place, it is preferable to provide-in con'juncticntherewith at least one retainer, such as shown in Fig. '3, in which accidental detachment from the screw 2| is precluded.

As referred to with respect to the retainer ll, it will be noted that the body portion of the retainer 22 is also formed by parallel upper and lower leg members which receive therethr'ough the shank of the retaining screw and which engage the retaining screw at spaced points. By such spaced enge gement of the retaining member'with the screw, it will be seen that a tilting or canting action of the retaining member with respect to the screw is precluded, and thus, despite the application of tension to the'screen, strip'br retaining member, there can "be 'notiltingaction and thus the relation of the retaining member and strip to the frame is permanently maintained in such manner as to preclude a loose andwobbling connection.

Referring now to Fig. 4 of 'the drawingsg the securingmember shown thereinis substantially like the securing member of Fig. 2. In that form of the invention shown in Fig. 4, however, the retaining member is designed for permanent securement to the frame and thus, instead of a bayonet slot for receiving the securing screw 2 I, the upper end lower walls 3! and 32, respectively, of the body of the retaining member are simply apertured as indicated at 33 to receive the shank of the screw 2!. Obviously, in such a structure the slot l5 which receives the tongue I6 is of no greater width than the tongue since there is no necessity for a sliding movement of the retaining member with respect to the strip.

While this form of the invention provides for a permanent connection of the securing means Instead of the bayonet mayii desired, be 'bent after receiving the strip to the parallel posit-ion indicated in 2- and 3.

In that form of the-invention shown in Fig.5, wobbli-ng or pivotal movement "of the retaining member with respcct tothe retain'ing "screw 2! precluded by formlng thebody of theretaihing' member -as =a cylindrical boss 34 through the shank of the "attaching screw ill the hose beingextended 'right- 'angularly from'a base portioii fi uponwhich the tongue 1 6 is formedr obilieuslyp since the boss has an elongated 'bearin'g -onthe'shank of the screw2' l, pivotalmovement thereef with respect' to the shank will precmdedit being, of course; understood that the bore of the boss snugl fits' the sh-an er the screw. -In thi's' iormbf the invention also; "since T the retaining member is not removable froiir the attacningscrevr, the tongue 16 ts show n 'as i nciine'd to permit removal or the strip.

A further 'inodification of the invention is disclosed in Flg ffi', in which the strip H is provided with an -inwardly extehdiiigflange 35 having' an inner 5 terminal return-"bent edge--31 "which is adapted to slidablv receive a: U shaped retaining rhembei38,' the uppef face iifi or which is formed with extending ears 40 adapted to be received Within the retumbent portion -31 of the strip and to be retained thereby; The'"-1ower'wall H bf the retaining member is aper tur ed in registry with an apertureof tne upperracese and with aconforming a-perture in thefiange "35. Thus the attachingscre'w -fl -is engaged by'the retaining member 38 at spaoed points in the manner of engegeinentbf the' r'etaining members of Figs. 2, 3 and4, and thus by such spaced engagement the wobbling and-ti1tin*:'movement of the strip a s'well 'as the retalnin'g memberwvith respect to the screw is precluded? P Referring t'o Figs. 7 ends; the retaining screw drical eody pornomn and a screw head receiving poittioi'i "44 which snugly engages the head of the screw to preclude movement of the bushing withi espe'cfito the screw: The inner end of the body of the bushing 42 is turned inwardly, as

.. -inner end of the busliing is formed to provide an extended use contaot witl'r the :lower face .41 of the securing pla'jtelaf' the tong'ue l fi of which engages the strip in the manner which is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. As more clearly indicated in Fig. 8, the slot l5 of the strip H which receives the tongue I6 is elongated as in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to permit sliding movement of the retaining plate 48. This form of the invention also provides a bayonet type slot 49, the arrangement being such that in this instance the retaining plate may slide with respect to the strip and with respect to the attaching screw 2| in a manner to releasably engage the retaining plate with the screw. As shown at 50, the plate may be provided with a right-angularly disposed finger accmsa which is approximate to the outer head of the bushing when the plate is moved to screw engaging position and such proximity will assist in precluding pivotal or wobbling movement of the plate with respect to the screw. It will also be noted that the inner face of the head portion of the bushing is closely approximate the screen l itself, and at the point where the screen is supported by the inner face of the return bent portion 12 of the strip, such proximity also assisting in precluding a wobbling movement of the securing means with respect to the screw 2|.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel and improved means by which a securing element is mounted with respect to a window frame in such manner as to preclude a wobbling, canting or angular movement of the securing means with respect to the frame or to the attaching screw which engages the frame. It will also be seen that the present invention provides means by which the securing device may be releasably retained on the securing screws in a manner precluding pivotal movement thereof with respect to the screw. The invention also provides a novel and improved means and further provides a manner of such engagement by which the securing means may slidably move with respect to the strip in order to facilitate engagement and disengagement thereof with the securing screw. The invention also pro vides means by which the strip may be re1easably retained by securing means if desired.

In considering the foregoing, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the structure, combination and inter-relation of parts here shown but that numerous changes, modification and the full use of equivalents may be resorted to in the practce of the invention as out lined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is:

1. A top screen edge holding assembly, adapted to be mounted on the upper end of a window frame, comprising a headed retainer adapted to be secured to the upper end of the window frame and extend downwardly from the downwardly facing surface of said upper end, a top holding strip supporting member slidably but non-tiltably mounted on the headed retainer and having a dimension in the direction of the length of the retainer less than the distance from the headed end of the retainer to the downwardly facing surface of the upper end of the window frame so as to be spaced from said surface, a top screen edge holding strip having its lower margin reversely bent for holding the upper end of a frameless window screen and having its upper portion formed with a fiat face for sealing engagement with the outer face of the upper end of the window frame, said supporting member being connected to the top holding strip for holding it in a position for sealing engagement of said flat face with the mentioned outer face of the window frame, whereby the tension of the screen will pull the supporting member down against the head of the retainer and away from the downwardly facing surface of the window frame, but said supporting member will be prevented from tilting by its non-tiltable engagement with the retainer, said supporting member having an L-shaped slot formed therein to permit lateral removal thereof from the re tainer.

2. A stop screen edge holding assembly, adapted to be mounted on the upper end of a window frame, comprising a headed retainer adapted to be secured to the upper end of the window frame and extend downwardly from the downwardly facing surface of said upper end, a top holding strip supporting member slidably but non-tiltably mounted on the headed retainer and having a dimension in the direction of the length of the retainer less than the distance from the headed end of the retainer to the downwardly facing surface of the upper end of the window frame so as to be spaced from said surface, a top screen edge holding strip having its lower margin reversely bent for holding the upper end of a frameless window screen and having its upper portion formed with a flat face for sealing engagement with the outer face of the upper end of the Window frame, said supporting member being connected to the top holding strip for holding it in a position for sealing engagement of said flat face with the mentioned outer face of the window frame, whereby the tension of the screen will pull the supporting member down against the head of the retainer and away from the downwardly facing surface of the window frame, but said supporting member will be prevented from tilting by its nontiltable engagement with the retainer, said supporting member comprising a reversely bent sheet metal element having aligned openings therein for the reception of the retainer, whereby engagement of the element at separated points with the retainer prevents tilting of the element relative to the retainer, said openings being in the form of L-shaped slots joined at the reverse bend to enable removal of the supporting member from the retainer.

ALBERT LANG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,258,826 Thompson Mar. 12, 1918 1,672,896 Marshall June 12, 1928 2,051,341 Madsen Aug. 18, 1936 2,117,606 French May 17, 1938 2,372,912 Rust Apr. 3, 1945 2,547,302 Blaser Apr. 3, 1951 2,605,826 Lang Aug. 5, 1952 2,605,827 Lang Aug. 5, 1952 

